Disposable diaper



Feb. 1o, 1953 M. E. MILLER 2,627,858

' DISPOSABLE DIAPER Filed Noval 5, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,627,858 DIsPosBLE DIAPER Margaret E. Miner, New York, N. Y.

Application November 3, 1950, Serial No. 193,774 9 claiis. (o1. 12s-287) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in moisture-absorbing articles of clothing and relates more particularly to a disposable diaper. V.

An object of the invention is to provide a diaper that is completely disposable and one :that does not require the use of pins or snaps to hold it in place. Another object of the invention" is to provide a diaper that is shaped to provide a comfortable t for the infant and that does not require folding in the manner that cloth diaper do to'provide for sufficient absorption.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaper of the disposable type that may be readily adjusted by the user to t infants of various sizes. -Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent and best understood from the following description and :the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a diaper embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view taken along the line l2-.2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section and illustrates a modification of the invention;

4 is an end View of a portion of adiaper with the sides of the top and bottom in overlapping relation; and

Fig. 5 is a side View of the portions of the diaper illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is a diaper, indicated generally by the reference numeral I0, which is shaped so that it can be placed,V on an infant easily and without special folding. The diaper I is shown in its at condition in Fig. 1 and consists of an inner sheet or lining II and an outer sheet I2 which are superimposed on each other.

The sheets II and I2 are shaped to form a front portion I3 and a back portion I4 which extend around the waist of an infant when fthe diaper is doubled on itself. The sides of the sheets I'I and I2 are curved inwardly as indicated at I to form a crotch portion I6 of reduced width which extends between the legs of the infant. The inward curvature I5 of the sides also provides circular-shaped openings that are designed to accommodate the legs of the infant when the diaper is doubled and is secured in place on the infant.

The inner sheet II is made of thin sheet material such as a tissue paper or rayon pulp cloth which is absorbent and has wet strength. Such material will not disintegrate or tear readily when it becomes wet in use and in addition, it

2 will not adhere to the infants skin. If desired, this material for the inner sheet II may be sterilized and it may also be impregnated with an antiseptic or other medication to retard any possible infection the infant may have or to counteract irritation of the infants skin due to contact with body wastes.

The outer sheet I2 is made of a material such as a wet-proof paper that prevents moisture from reaching the outside of the diaper and wetting other items of clothing which the infant may be wearing. A suitable water-repellant paper is one that has been treated or impregnated with a coating of polystyrene on its outer surface.

A ller I1 made of cellulose or similar pulp material is interposed between the inner and outer sheets II and I2. Such a ller is Very absorbent and may be easily sterilized. The ller I'I has the same general contour as the inner and outer sheets I I and I2, but is somewhat smaller in size with its edges being spaced inwardly from the edges of the inner and outer sheets. This keeps the diaper from lbecoming bulky or unwieldy at the side edges thereof. v

A supplemental filler |'8 of cellulose material, similar to the ller I1, is also interposed between the inner and outer sheets I I and I2 at the crotch portion I6 of the diaper. The supplemental ller I8 is T-shaped with the top of the T being located toward the back portion I3 of the diaper and with the leg of the T extending over the crotch portion and toward the front portion I4 of the diaper. The supplemental ller I8 is thus positionedl so as to provide extra padding of the absorbent filler material where it is most needed; i. e., in the back for girls and in the front for boys. Y

The inner and outer sheets II and I2 are secured together with the llers I1 and I8 between them by folding the edge of one of the sheets over the edge of the other sheet as indicated at I9 in Fig. 2. The folded edge may be secured in place by adhesives or other suitable means and provides a finished edge for the diaper.

After the various parts of the diaper have been placed in their vproper positions, they are then pressed together along lines 20 extending across the diaper. This forms creases along the lines 20 which extend through the inner and outer sheets and the fillers. The crease lines 20 may be in the form of diamond or square-shaped patterns which give the diaper the appearance of being quilted and they will appear on both sides of the diaper. Such crease lines 20 tend to hold the ller I1 and I8 against movement relative to the inner and outer sheets and they also form a plurality of moisture-retaining cells in the fillers that tend to prevent moisture from dissipating throughout the whole diaper and therefore reduces the possibility of irritation, chaiing and discomfort when the diaper is wet.

Tabs 2I and 22 are provided at the sides of the back portion I3 and the front portion I4, respectively, of the diaper. The tabs 2l and 22 on the back and front portions of the diaper, respectively, overlap, as indicated in Fig; 4, when the diaper is double and placed on an infant. These tabs 2l and 22 may each be provided with one or more lengthwise perforations, as indicated at 23,

so that portions of the tabs may be readilytorn various sizes of may be an adhesive tape or other suitable tape such as a cellulose tape having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one surface and it may be attached to the portion of the diaper as illustrated or supplied separately for attachment by the user. Thus, when the tabs on the back and front portions I3 and I4 of the diaper are in overlapping relation, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tape 24 is merely pressed into contact with both of the portions Wherethey join and this secures the diaper snugly in place without the use of pins or snaps. Thisy eliminates any danger of the infant being stuck by safety pins and there is n tendency to tear the paper as would be the case if pins were used.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, an inner sheet IIa is provided with perforations as indicated at 25. The perforations may be formed by piercing the inner sheet IIa at the same time as the creases along the intersecting lines are formed and they should be of a suicientsize to permit moisture to pass through the paper readily.

A diaper made in accordance with the present invention is completely disposable and no part of the diaper need be saved or laundered. The cost of the diaper is such, however, that the exfpense of using such diapers will be very little, if any, more than the vcost of Athe usual cloth diapers plus the cost of laundering such' diapers. In addition, the present diaperV possesses many advantages in convenience for the mother and in comfort and cleanliness for the infant.

It will be understood that various modiiications and changes in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described hereinvmay be made by those skilled in the art withoutY departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the following claims. f f

vIclaim:

l. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wet-strength, said inner and outer sheets being secured together at their edges by folding the edge of one of the sheets over the edge of the other sheet and being shapedto form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, Va -flllervof absorbent cellulose material 1ocated between said inner and outer sheets and a supplemental filler located between the inner and outer sheets and extending acrossl the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental filler being T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets. I

2. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of Water-penetratable material having wetstrength, said inner and outer sheets being secured together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a ller of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, a supplemental ller of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental filler being T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheetsand creases along intersecting lines extending across the surfaces of and through said sheets and iillers, said creases dividing the fillers into a plurality of moisture-retaining cells.

3. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wetstrength, said inner and outer sheets being secured together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a filler of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, a supplemental filler of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner 'and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental ller being T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets and tabs extending from the side edges of the front and back portions of inner and outer sheets, said tabs having lengthwise perforations therein for detaching portions thereof from the inner and outer sheets.

4. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wetstrength, saidl inner and outer sheets being secured'together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a ller of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, a supplemental filler of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental filler being T-shaped and having the top of the T, locate`d toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets, creases along intersecting lines extending across the surfaces of and through said sheets and fillers, said creases dividing the llers into 'a plurality of moisture-retaining cells and tabs extending from the side edge of the front and back portions of the inner and outer sheets. said tabs having lengthwise perforations therein for ',detaching portions thereof from the inner and outer sheets. e

5. In a disposable diaper thecombination of an outer sheet of Water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wetstrength, said inner and outer sheets being secured together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a filler of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner/and outer sheets, a supplemental filler of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental ller vbeing T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the'back portions ofthe innera'nd outer sheets, tabs extending from the side edges of the front and back portions of inner and outer sheets, said tabs having lengthwise perforations therein for detaching portions thereof from the inner and outer sheets, and means for securing the front portion of the sheets to the back portion of the sheets in overlapping relation, said means comprising a tape having a pressuresensitive adhesive extending lengthwise of the sides of the back and front portions of the sheets and engaging with said front and back portions.

6. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wet-strength, said inner and outer sheets being secured together at their edges and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a ller of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, a supplemental ller of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental ller being T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets, creases along intersecting lines extending across the surfaces of and through said sheets and fillers, said creases dividing the filler into a plurality of moistureretaining cells, tabs extending from the side edges of the front and back portions of the inner and outer sheets. said tabs having lengthwise perforations therein for detaching portions thereof from the inner and outer sheets. and means for securing the front portion of the sheets to the back portion of the sheets in overlapping relation, said means comprising a tape having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, said surface engaging with said front and back portions of the sheets adjacent the point at which they overlap.

7. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wetstrength and having a series of perforations therein extending over its surface, said inner and outer sheets being secured together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a filler of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets and a supplemental ller of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof,

said supplemental filler being T-shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets.

8. In a disposable diaper the combination of an outer sheet of Water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-penetratable material having wet-strength and having a series of perforations therein extending over its surface, said inner and outer sheets being secured together and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a filler of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, a supplemental ller of absorbent cellulose material located between the inner and outer sheets and extending across the crotch portion thereof, said supplemental filler being T- shaped and having the top of the T located toward the back portions of the inner and outer sheets and creases along intersecting lines extending across the surfaces of and through said sheets and llers, said creases dividing the iillers into a plurality of moisture-retaining cells communicating with the perforations in the inner sheet.

9. In a disposable diaper, the combination of an outer sheet of water-repellant paper, an inner sheet of water-absorbent paper, said water-absorbent paper being of a type having strength when wet, said inner and outer sheets being secured together along their sides and being shaped to form a front portion and a back portion connected by a crotch portion of reduced width, a filler of absorbent cellulose material located between said inner and outer sheets, creases along intersecting lines extending across the surface of at least one of the sheets and through the filler, said creases dividing the ller into a plurality of moisture-retaining cells and securing means extending outwardly from opposite sides of the front and back portions formed by the inner and outer sheets.

MARGARET E. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,169 Crouse May 24, 1938 2,273,542 Tasker Feb. 17, 1942 2,290,110 McGraw July 14, 1942 

